Forca Method is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Craig Jones. They are featured here for educational and editorial purposes. Information is compiled from public sources including FloGrappling, BJJ Fanatics, Tapology, and official competition records.
Who They Are
Craig Jones is an Australian black belt who’s made his name smashing through elite no-gi competition, first blowing up at ADCC 2017. If you train, you know the highlights—Craig heel hooking Leandro Lo, nearly strangling Murilo Santana, taking out Gordon Ryan’s main rivals. He’s spent time at absolute weight, middleweight, and everything between. These days you’ll see him coaching at B-Team in Austin, taking superfights, and giving some of the best post-match interviews in grappling.
Why They Matter
Craig Jones isn’t just another leg-lock guy—he basically changed how the average grappler thought about the game. If you train no-gi and you’ve ever been stuck in a straight ankle lock and told your partner, “Craig Jones does this,” congrats, you’re part of his influence. Before his breakout, Aussies weren’t seen as threats on the world circuit. Now? People are flying to Texas to train with him.
His runs at ADCC set a blueprint: you can win big matches with a dangerous guard, a systematic approach to submissions, and without being built like a fridge or relying on wrestling from the jump. He’s durable, smart with his pacing, and his guard isn’t just for stalling—it’s a real weapon, even against monsters.
Style And Strengths
If you want to know what "Craig Jones style" means, start with leg locks. But not just any leg locks—think body positioning that leaves almost no counterattacks, constant threat transitions, and grip changes mid-battle. The guy uses inside heel hooks, outside heel hooks, and straight ankle locks like most dudes use collar ties. If you’re not actively denying his leg entries, you’re already behind.
He’s not a pure foot hunter though. Craig’s back attacks are some of the most efficient around. Watch his matches and you’ll see him switching effortlessly from saddle to the back, always threatening, never just holding the position.
Craig doesn’t gas out, and he doesn’t rush. His guard is annoying to pass for even the best smashers. He frames, off-balances, and makes you pay for every inch. You won’t see wasted grips or death grips that blow out his forearms—he lets guys commit and then pounces.
He’s also deadly off scrambles. If you make a lazy movement, he’s under you and setting up a trap. Even if you’re ahead on points, you never feel safe. That threat changes how opponents move—it slows them down, forces mistakes.
What Grapplers Can Learn
There’s plenty to steal from Craig Jones, whether you’re blue belt or prepping for trials.
- Leg Lock Systems Work—If You Understand Them
Craig’s success didn’t come from just grabbing feet. He drills the entries, understands the control, and knows the right finish for the right reaction. If you just spam heel hooks, you’ll get nowhere. Study the transitions—knee line control, false reaps, using both entries and escapes. You have to learn the layers, not just the move.
- Guard Isn’t Stalling, It’s Hunting
Watch how he uses guard. He’s not just sitting and waiting. Everything is designed to off-balance, shift angles, and create real danger. If you’re a guard player getting flattened out and passed, you need to add some of the Jones style hooks, frames, and off-balancing drills to your rounds.
- Efficiency Wins Tournaments
Craig doesn’t grip harder than he has to. He sets traps and makes opponents waste energy. That’s why he can go back-to-back hard rounds, and still finish fights late. If your forearms are blowing up after four minutes, you’re doing it wrong. Watch how he relaxes in guard, flows through scrambles, and only tightens up when it’s time to finish.
- Transitions Matter More Than Moves
He links positions—saddle to back, guard to leg entanglements, back to top. If you never train connecting your attacks, you’ll stay stuck at the "almost" stage. Take a cue: connect your attacks. Don’t just drill finishes, drill transitions between major positions.
- You Don’t Need To Be A Freak Athlete
Craig Jones isn’t the fastest, the strongest, or the most explosive. His game is built on timing, structure, and making people pay for mistakes. If you’re not a division one wrestler or lifting like a powerlifter, you can still build a nasty, dangerous game—if you study what actually works in live rounds.
Final Takeaway
Craig Jones didn’t just latch onto heel hooks and hope for the best—he built a tightly connected, dangerous system and proved you don’t have to fit the old-school archetype to smash top competition. Grapplers who want more than endless grip battles and empty mat time should study how he strings together attacks, conserves energy, and uses smart tactics. If your game feels stuck—guard getting crushed, attacks not landing, scrambling without direction—quit watching highlight reels and watch his details in full matches.
He’s proof that dangerous, efficient jiu-jitsu can beat brute strength, and that the right systems will always matter more than raw athleticism. If you actually want to win in modern no-gi, you need to understand what makes the Craig Jones approach work. Find the details, add the layers, and make your time on the mat count.
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